Blumenthal praises federal court's contraception ruling

Published April 06. 2013 1:00PM

Updated April 06. 2013 1:26PM

Associated Press

Publication: theday.com

HARTFORD, Conn. (AP) — U.S. Sen. Richard Blumenthal says he is pleased that a federal court has ordered the Food and Drug Administration to stop requiring girls younger than 17 to see a doctor before buying the morning-after pill.

Blumenthal says in a statement released Saturday that the court's decision has placed science and safety ahead of politics, and will help secure safe access to contraception for all women.

On Friday, a judge in New York ruled that today's requirement that buyers show proof they're 17 or older if they want to buy it without a prescription will end in 30 days.

The Justice Department hasn't decided whether to appeal. If it does, it could sidetrack President Barack Obama just as he's trying to keep Congress and the public focused on gun control, immigration and the budget.